Mansooruddin Faridi/New Delhi  

When Professor Suhail Sabir retired from service at the Aligarh Muslim University gave Rs 50 lakh as an endowment fund for scholarships to deserving students. The endowment fund has been created through donations from former students and dignitaries and it's the first instance of a professor donating part of his retirement benefits.

Dr. Suhail Sabir said his move was a way of paying back to the university and society. Importantly, his action also came from his emotional attachment to AMU.

It's also Prof Sabir's way of paying tribute to AMU's founder Sir Syed Ahmed who struggled and was passionate about his vision of a university for Muslims.

Professoe Suhail Sabir told Awaz-the Voice that said he is because of the charity of this educational institution. "Students will be happy. A committee has also been formed to monitor the distribution of scholarships to the needy."

Prof. Sohail Saber handed over the cheque of this amount to the Finance Officer of the University, Prof. M. Mohsin Khan KK.

He said he was grateful to the AMU for accepting his offer.

Prof. Suhail Sabir hopes that his act can inspire the Aligarh-based retired professors to do the same.

"This initiative should be taken by everyone who owes a favour to their educational institution. It (Joining AMU) is the best way to take off," he told Awaz-the Voice.

Praising Professor Suhail Sabir, Shafi Kidwai said he has set an example for others as it's for the first time that a teaching staff of the university has donated a significant amount of money to the endowment fund. Speaking with Awaz-the Voice over the phone, he said Prof. Saber's act was a reflection of the vision of Sir Syed Ahmed Khan who emphasized financial support for those who can't afford along with the education of children. Professor Suhail Sabir did what no other professor has done to date.

Hakeem Syed Zulur Rahman of the Ibn Sina Academy of Medieval Medicine and Sciences, who spent 70 years in Aligarh, says he did not find any instance of a teacher donating such a large amount of money for the needy students.

AMU Professor Shafi Kidwai said that Professor Suhail Sabir has been a responsible and sensitive teacher. "He used to give free coaching to weaker students. He would ask his students to introspect on the question Am I good or bad? He informed parents of his students about their academic progress through postcards. Such teachers are rare."

Prof Sabir was closely associated with the AMU alumni association and helped many students. "He has always been a teacher who not only encouraged his students but also guided them in every possible way,"Qadwai said.

Professor Suhail Sabir was always popular among the students of the university.

Prominent writer Dr. Asad Faisal Farooqi told Awaz-the Voice that Professor Sohail Saber's grand gesture has set an example. "He was a helper of students during his teaching period, he has been helping his students in every possible way. It is a reflection of Sir Syed's thinking."

Professor Suhail Sabir's father was also associated with the University Health Center. It is a generational relationship that is reflected in this decision. He said that AMU received large donations from former students living in the country and abroad. There are many examples of this but this is the first time someone has shown this passion in the teaching staff.

It is worth noting that Professor Suhail Saber, a native of Barabanki, Uttar Pradesh, was educated in Aligarh, he also did a including a PhD in Chemistry from AMU. Prof. Suhail Sabir joined this university as a lecturer in 1993 and rose to become a Professor in 2015.

It may be mentioned that an endowment fund is an investment portfolio whose initial capital comes from donations. Endowment funds are established to fund charitable and non-profit organizations such as churches, hospitals, and universities. Donations to endowment funds are tax-exempt.

Endowment funds are initially invested by donors for a few charitable purposes. They are usually set up as trusts, which keep them independent of the organizations they support. Endowment funds consist of cash, equities, bonds, and other types of securities that can generate income from investments.

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The main difference between an endowment fund and an ordinary investment fund - such as a mutual fund - is that the beneficiary of an endowment fund is a non-profit organization rather than individual investors. Generally, the principal value of the endowment fund is maintained, while the investment income can be used for certain purposes. Thus, the endowment fund can be